--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I'm writing for an intelligent…" description: "\"I think I'm writing for an intelligent stranger - you know, in my mind I can't remember who coined that phrase first. I don't want to write anything th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37c/jason-isbell-3520_anything_i-think-i-m-writing-for-an-intelligent-s_2287157.jpg" --- # I think I'm writing for an intelligent stranger - you… ![“I think I'm writing for an intelligent stranger - you know, in my mind I can't remember who coined that phrase first. I don't want to write anything that makes me cringe, first of all. I cringe a lot - mostly when I hear popular music.” quote by Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37c/jason-isbell-3520_anything_i-think-i-m-writing-for-an-intelligent-s_2287157.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37c/jason-isbell-3520_anything_i-think-i-m-writing-for-an-intelligent-s_2287157.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37c/jason-isbell-3520_anything_i-think-i-m-writing-for-an-intelligent-s_2287157.jpg) > “I think I'm writing for an intelligent stranger - you know, in my mind I can't remember who coined that phrase first. I don't want to write anything that makes me cringe, first of all. I cringe a lot - mostly when I hear popular music.” [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer wants to avoid cringe-worthy content and feels uncertain about the origin of a phrase, aiming for authenticity. **In simple terms:** Avoid writing that feels in; seek genuine expression. Key Takeaway Write authentically, ignore fear of cringe. Themes authenticity creativity self‑doubt Mood reflective anxious Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - personal journaling - blog posts - creative workshops Key Concepts voice originality influence Questions to Reflect On - What would you write if you weren’t afraid of cringe? - How can you verify phrase origins? A Different Perspective Fear of cringe may stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cringe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cringe/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Popular music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular-music/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I often think, no one wants to read this. No one wants to hear this. My own work makes me cringe sometimes, cringe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-mann/i-often-think-no-one-wants-to-read-this-no-one-wants-to-hear-this-my/) [Randall Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-mann/) > [Well first of all, I think the phrase 'jump the shark' has jumped the shark. I read it in every article and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/well-first-of-all-i-think-the-phrase-jump-the-shark-has-jumped-the/) [Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/) > [And I thought if I don't pre-interview - first of all, we couldn't afford it - but the second thing was it would force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lipton/and-i-thought-if-i-don-t-pre-interview-first-of-all-we-couldn-t/) [James Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lipton/) > [I don't think I've ever felt terribly comfortable writing about my body. First of all, I think I took my body for granted for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-kumin/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-felt-terribly-comfortable-writing-about-my/) [Maxine Kumin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-kumin/) > [And today more than ever, knowing about that society involves first of all choosing what approach the inquiry will take, and that necessarily means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-lyotard/and-today-more-than-ever-knowing-about-that-society-involves-first-of/) [Jean-Francois Lyotard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-lyotard/) > [I don't really believe in elegance. Ever since I first came to France many years ago to do the Chambre Syndicale course, I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-menkes/i-don-t-really-believe-in-elegance-ever-since-i-first-came-to-france/) [Suzy Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-menkes/) > [The studio is meant to be always a place where, first of all, they can be out of spotlight, and second, where they could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lipton/the-studio-is-meant-to-be-always-a-place-where-first-of-all-they-can/) [James Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lipton/) > [First of all, CIA follows the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/first-of-all-cia-follows-the-law/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > ['L.A. Law' has been a bit of a blessing and a curse. First of all, it was a very prestigious show that had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/l-a-law-has-been-a-bit-of-a-blessing-and-a-curse-first-of-all-it-was/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) > [Since I am first of all a character writer, that character's emotions are as vivid to me as my own. I always begin with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/since-i-am-first-of-all-a-character-writer-that-character-s-emotions/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [Music, first of all, is completely about abstraction, which is exactly what architecture is not. In a way, it has been incredibly constructive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-vinoly/music-first-of-all-is-completely-about-abstraction-which-is-exactly/) [Rafael Vinoly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-vinoly/) > [I think, first of all, you know, Washington has a bad habit of a very short attention span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-think-first-of-all-you-know-washington-has-a-bad-habit-of-a-very/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I was a musician first of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-blue/i-was-a-musician-first-of-all/) [Jonas Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-blue/) > [First of all, I think that is true, if you are a musician, particularly on the come, that you do have to end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sebastian/first-of-all-i-think-that-is-true-if-you-are-a-musician-particularly/) [John Sebastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sebastian/) > [Our fashion for us, it's an expression; first of all of life, I put all of myself in my fashion. Sometimes it's good, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-gabbana/our-fashion-for-us-it-s-an-expression-first-of-all-of-life-i-put-all/) [Stefano Gabbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-gabbana/) ## More by Jason Isbell > [Whatever needed to be done, I need to know how to do it just as well as my wife. You know, for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/whatever-needed-to-be-done-i-need-to-know-how-to-do-it-just-as-well/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [The Police could get away with doing an entire record with really no audible reverb, which I have always admired and thought would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/the-police-could-get-away-with-doing-an-entire-record-with-really-no/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I think great songs appeal to people at any age. Kids love the Beatles, too. Kids love Tom T. Hall. Of course, Tom T.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-think-great-songs-appeal-to-people-at-any-age-kids-love-the-beatles/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [Democracy can tie your hands in a rock 'n' roll band, you know? It can be a great thing, but if you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/democracy-can-tie-your-hands-in-a-rock-n-roll-band-you-know-it-can-be/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [If you're the person whose problems were solved when you were born, your job is to try and help the people who aren't in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/if-you-re-the-person-whose-problems-were-solved-when-you-were-born/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I like not having to worry about paying the bills, but I have to watch myself because I don't come from money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-like-not-having-to-worry-about-paying-the-bills-but-i-have-to-watch/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [A lot of people in Nashville think that the best song is the catchiest or the one that sells the most copies. They're editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/a-lot-of-people-in-nashville-think-that-the-best-song-is-the/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [The world changes fast, and a lot of the old country folks have a hard time keeping up with it, and it makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/the-world-changes-fast-and-a-lot-of-the-old-country-folks-have-a-hard/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [The more you read, the better you are at writing, no matter what you're writing. A lot of songwriters miss that and don't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/the-more-you-read-the-better-you-are-at-writing-no-matter-what-you-re/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [The idea of growing up in the South and being a man is an interesting thing; there's a lot masculinity involved, with hunting, fishing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/the-idea-of-growing-up-in-the-south-and-being-a-man-is-an-interesting/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I don't think I'm a country artist, really. I'm a country person, but I don't think I'm necessarily a country singer or musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-don-t-think-i-m-a-country-artist-really-i-m-a-country-person-but-i/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I like those kinds of songs that have details that you remember and that have stories that mean something and that open up into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-like-those-kinds-of-songs-that-have-details-that-you-remember-and/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [Man, that Jim Lauderdale always looks good - he's got more western suits than anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/man-that-jim-lauderdale-always-looks-good-he-s-got-more-western-suits/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I'm not a big AA guy, but I'll go every once in a while. They do tell you that going out and helping other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-m-not-a-big-aa-guy-but-i-ll-go-every-once-in-a-while-they-do-tell/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [My dad, he worries a bit, usually with good reason. There were quite a few years there where he was probably trying to resign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/my-dad-he-worries-a-bit-usually-with-good-reason-there-were-quite-a/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) [Explore all 128 Jason Isbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) ## More Anything quotes > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [You know, I'm from Baltimore; nobody has anything. When somebody had talent, I was hiring my uncle, my cousin, you know? Getting people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/you-know-i-m-from-baltimore-nobody-has-anything-when-somebody-had/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [Don't do anything drastic like getting your eyebrows tattooed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/don-t-do-anything-drastic-like-getting-your-eyebrows-tattooed/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think I'm writing for an intelligent stranger - you know, in my mind I can't remember who coined that phrase first. I don't want to write anything that makes me cringe, first of all. I cringe a lot - mostly when I hear popular music.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jason Isbell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-think-i-m-writing-for-an-intelligent-stranger-you-know-in-my-mind-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anything" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-think-i-m-writing-for-an-intelligent-stranger-you-know-in-my-mind-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37c/jason-isbell-3520_anything_i-think-i-m-writing-for-an-intelligent-s_2287157.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37c/jason-isbell-3520_anything_i-think-i-m-writing-for-an-intelligent-s_2287157.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37c/jason-isbell-3520_anything_i-think-i-m-writing-for-an-intelligent-s_2287157.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think I'm writing for an intelligent stranger - you know, in my mind I can't remember who coined that…” — Jason Isbell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jason Isbell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think I'm writing for an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-think-i-m-writing-for-an-intelligent-stranger-you-know-in-my-mind-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-think-i-m-writing-for-an-intelligent-stranger-you-know-in-my-mind-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```